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With summer just around the corner, most churches are gearing up for a time of faith and fun at Vacation Bible School (VBS). We’ve put together a list of simple VBS ideas to help you create a week full of laughter, friendship, and spiritual growth.
As church leaders, we know just how much fun and excitement VBS brings to the community. And let’s be honest, it’s not just the youth who have a blast—volunteers have just as much fun helping kids grow in their faith!
From arts and crafts to Bible-inspired games, we’ll explore 12 creative VBS ideas that will have everyone eagerly anticipating each day’s new adventure.
Art has the unique ability to help children connect with their faith through creativity. The following VBS craft ideas go beyond a simple coloring page and are sure to inspire the imagination. Kids of all ages will enjoy making a special keepsake to remember their time at VBS.
A prayer jar is a unique and engaging way to teach your VBS kids how to pray. First, have them embellish their very own mason jar with paint and glitter. While their masterpiece dries, they can write down prayers on small slips of paper to place in their jars and “give to God.” Talk to them about developing a strong prayer life, reminding them to pray regularly and trust in the Lord’s faithfulness.
With DIY bracelets back in style, thanks to Taylor Swift’s Eras tour, now is the perfect time to include this project in your list of VBS craft ideas. All you need is some elastic string and an assortment of lettered and decorative beads.
Help kids create bracelets that spell out the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23). Their bracelets will serve as a constant reminder to cultivate godly qualities in their lives such as “love,” “joy,” and “peace.”
Kids can bring the word with them no matter what they’re reading with a Bible verse bookmark. With this easy craft, they’ll have God’s truth and promises tucked away in their own Bibles, novels, and schoolbooks throughout the year.
First, help them write their favorite verse down on colored cardstock. Then, provide markers, stickers, and ribbons so they can decorate in their own creative way. Another creative idea is this free “Bear Fruit” bookmark activity teaching kids about our need for Jesus through John 15:5!
What’s better than snack time at VBS? Make-your-own-snack time! To reinforce your biblical lessons, serve snacks that tie into the day’s topic or the program’s overarching theme. These delicious culinary crafts will leave your VBS kids hungry for more.
If you have some talented bakers in your congregation, you can enlist their help to prepare a batch of cross-shaped sugar cookies for a sweet VBS treat. Each child will have their own cookie to decorate with icing, sprinkles, and candies. Then, the best part—taste testing! As they enjoy their cookie creations, share the message of the cross in an age-appropriate way.
Bring the story of Jonah to life with a fun and edible recreation of this beloved biblical adventure. Prepare peanut butter (or an allergy-friendly alternative) and jelly sandwiches and have the kids use a special cookie cutter to cut out their own whale-shaped snack. Pair with Goldfish crackers to match this under-the-sea theme and give each child a single Sour Patch Kid to represent Jonah.
Have the children gather around as you tell the Creation story with the promise of a tasty snack at the end! Start with a large glass bowl and an assortment of snacks to represent each day. As you tell the story, add a new snack to the bowl.
For example, mini Oreos for day one when God separated the light from darkness, or star-shaped cereal for day four when he created the sun, moon, and stars. For a complete list of ideas, Seeds to Strength Bible School has a creative list of snack options for each day of Creation.
Please be mindful of potential food allergies when planning your VBS snack ideas. Have alternative options available for children with dietary restrictions to ensure that everyone can participate and enjoy snack time safely.
Many VBS programs adopt a new focus every summer, adding to the excitement and anticipation year after year. If you’re ready for a new theme, we have a few engaging design suggestions to spark your imagination. Check out these VBS decorating ideas that will set the stage for a week of faith-filled fellowship!
When kids walk through the doors of your church, bird calls, rushing waterfalls, and all the sounds of a tropical paradise greet them. Green streamers hang from the ceiling and walls like vines. Faux palm trees, ferns, and ficus line the hallways and classrooms. They’re surprised to see stuffed animals hidden among the foliage.
A temperate rainforest or desert oasis is the perfect backdrop for stories like the Creation, the Garden of Eden, and Noah’s Ark. With these immersive VBS decor ideas, your students will embark on a thrilling jungle adventure!
Empower your VBS kids to be heroes of faith by creating your own superhero league. Use a red, blue, yellow, and white color scheme and incorporate superhero imagery, such as the “Shield of Faith” or the “Cross of Courage.”
Set up a photo booth and create a nighttime cityscape using black poster board and yellow rectangles for windows. Provide superhero props like capes, masks, and signs with comic-inspired pop art signs that say things like, “Strength,” “Hope,” and “Love.”
We look up at the night sky in awe, knowing that even the stars praise the name of the Lord (Psalm 148:3–13). Share this wonder with young hearts this summer and lead them through God’s universe with a space theme.
Use star-shaped decorations, planets, and starry night lights to teach kids about God’s promise to Abraham and how all of creation glorifies the Lord. Set up a “Mission Control” area with computers, telescopes, or star maps for kids to explore. Glow-in-the-dark paint or stickers can be used to create constellations on the walls or ceiling.
While VBS is a time of learning and spiritual growth, we can’t forget the fun of fellowship! Including games in your program will help students build new friendships, burn off energy, and even reinforce your biblical lessons.
Let kids be the hero of the story as they pretend to be David in his famous battle with Goliath. Set up a giant Goliath target made out of cardboard or a large piece of plywood. Use bean bags as “stones” to reenact David’s victory.
Each child will take a turn trying to hit the target by throwing the stone at Goliath. If you have a kid-friendly slingshot or plan to make your own, use ping pong balls or paper balls instead.
This twist on the classic game of Jenga will help you teach kids about the power of faith and obedience as their towers come tumbling down. Borrow or buy multiple sets of Jenga or “tumbling tower” games, then divide the children into teams to play.
Before the fun begins, discuss how the Israelites’ trust in God brought down the mighty walls of Jericho. For older kids, take their epic battle outside with this giant version of the game.
Are your students ready for a little musical competition or just a friendly jam session? Create a playlist of songs you’re sure the kids will know—whether worship music, kid-friendly tunes, or songs they’ve learned at VBS.
Kids can team up and have a battle or keep it casual and simply take turns on center stage. To make it even more fun, provide a box of dress-up items like hats, accessories, and pretend microphones. You can use toys and brushes, or have the kids make their own mics out of paper tubes.
For even more exciting game ideas, check out our Top 12 VBS game ideas to try this summer blog!
Remember that Vacation Bible School is more than just a week of entertainment—it’s a chance to help the youth of your church and community discover the joy of knowing Jesus. We hope you found these ideas for VBS helpful as you plan an engaging and transformative week.
In preparation for this year’s VBS adventure, Subsplash Events can help you plan your program, add it to your calendar, track registration, and process payments seamlessly. This fully integrated church event planning software allows you to customize events to your unique community.
If you’d like to streamline your Vacation Bible School program or any other church events this summer, [.blog-contact-cta]schedule a free Subsplash demo today[.blog-contact-cta]!
